Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Maybe no Psalm is more closely associated with Jesus than Psalm 22. These are the words we hear echoing every Holy Week from Jesus’ lips while he is on the cross. Whenever we face life’s difficulties, we can find great comfort in the fact that Jesus experienced the deepest pain known to humanity.

What is significant is that we most often stop by lamenting our abandonment. Yet Jesus, by citing the first verse, was reference the entire Psalm. By the time the original writer was done with this piece, these words were included:

All the ends of the earthwill remember and turn to the Lord,and all the families of the nationswill bow down before him,for dominion belongs to the Lordand he rules over the nations. Psalm 22:27-28

When God walks with us through our seasons of abandonment, we are not diminished in soul, but strengthened. If you are feeling alone and abandoned today, ask God to make his grace and presence real to you today. Maybe in a friend, maybe a verse, or maybe a wave.

Emily standing on the beach at Hug Point. It seems as if she is all alone, with only the sand, ocean, and rocks keeping her company. But God IS present in the sand, ocean, rocks, air, and even the life that is in us always. We may have different plans than God has, but God is never forsaking us. And as we were taking this picture, there was a surprise wave coming around the rock to the right so fast that Emily had to run back. Just when you think God has forsaken you, He shows that He is here!